The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Health (DOH) through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are working closely in carrying out heightened quarantine procedures against African Swine Fever (ASF).

“We will continue to elevate and enhance our quarantine measures,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said during a press conference held on November 4, 2019 at the DA Central Office in Quezon City.

The secretary stressed that the ASF virus can be easily controlled and contained if the local government, hog raisers, and traders will cooperate and implement the quarantine measures set by the department.

“There is a standard protocol implemented since day one but because of the non-cooperation of some provinces, we are now elevating our quarantine measures,” Dar said.

Dar said while the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) are the lead agencies to regulate meat products, the local government units are the lead quarantine officers at the local level. He said that BAI and NMIS assist them in the quarantine activities.

As such, Dr. Reildrin Morales, head of the Crisis Management Task Force on Swine said that the DA is preparing for a National Zoning Plan that will be laid out within the week.

Visayas, Mindanao, and MIMAROPA regions will be declared free-zones or clear zones, meaning that they can send their products anywhere in the country.

Regions 1, 2, and 5 will be declared as protected zones; while Regions 3 and IVA are surveillance zones. Bulacan and Pampanga will be declared infected zones and can only send their pork products in other infected zones as well.

Dar reiterated the government’s call to small backyard raisers to report to their city, municipal or provincial veterinarian any sign of disease or deaths of pigs in their area. He also urged backyard raisers to refrain from swill feeding particularly those from airlines, hotels, and restaurants.

In addition, the Secretary asked traders not to take advantage of the situation by buying and illegal smuggled slaughtered pigs.

“It is a crime to sell, trade, and/or slaughter sick or dead pigs for meat or for processed pork products. Violators face imprisonment from 6 to 12 years or fine of Php100,000 to Php1 million or both,” Dar said. ### (Kristel Merle, DA-AFID)